TRACKING NATO SPENDING


Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jun 20, 2025

NATO Defense Spending Tracker

By
Kristen Taylor

The Transatlantic Security Initiative’s NATO defense spending tracker delves into data and figures to analyze current defense spending trends.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

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Programs and initiatives

The Transatlantic Security Initiative, in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, shapes and influences the debate on the greatest security challenges facing the North Atlantic Alliance and its key partners.

Content

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2016

Chuck Hagel to Next US President: Talk to Putin

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former Defense Secretary warns against ‘Cold War buildup’ as NATO deploys in Europe’s eastern flank As it ramps up its troop presence in Europe’s eastern flank, NATO must be careful not to get embroiled in a “Cold War buildup” with Russia, and the next US president must make it a priority to engage directly with […]

NATO Russia
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, March 23, 2016

NATOSource

May 10, 2016

Germany to Boost Troop Numbers for First Time Since Cold War

By Stefan Wagstyl, Financial Times

Germany is to raise troop numbers for the first time since the cold war in response to growing international challenges, including Islamist terrorism, instability in Africa, cyber attack threats and Russia’s newfound assertiveness.

Germany NATO

Event Recap

May 10, 2016

The Visegrad Group: Anchoring the NATO Alliance?

By Transatlantic Security Initiative

On May 10, 2016 the Atlantic Council partnered with the Corvinus Society for Foreign Affairs and Culture to host a roundtable discussion on The Visegrad Group: Anchoring the NATO Alliance?

NATO Security & Defense
Photos: US Air Force, Bundeswehr, and US Navy

NATOSource

May 10, 2016

How NATO Can Defend the Baltics from Conventional and Hybrid Attacks

By Franklin D. Kramer and Bantz J. Craddock

Effective defense of the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—and deterrence built upon such defensive capabilities—is one of the key challenges facing NATO and its member nations.

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

May 10, 2016

Braw in Politico Europe: Sweden Urged to Boost Alliances but Avoid NATO

By Elisabeth Braw

Read the full article here.

NATO Northern Europe
Meeting room at NATO summit in Wales, Sept. 3, 2014

NATOSource

May 10, 2016

Five Former Secretary Generals of NATO: Brexit will Undermine the Alliance

By The Telegraph

In a letter to the Telegraph, fiver former secretary generals of NATO urge the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union.

European Union International Organizations
Troops participating in NATO Noble Jump exercise, June 14, 2015

NATOSource

May 6, 2016

Restoring Conventional Deterrence in Europe: How to Climb Out of the Joint Security Trap

By Jeffrey A. Stacey

Russia is currently riding high on the geostrategic landscape, despite a trove of domestic economic woes that stem partly from Western sanctions.

NATO Russia
NATO exercise in Baltic Sea, May 29, 2015

NATOSource

May 6, 2016

The Case for a More Robust NATO Presence in the Baltic Sea

By Franklin D. Kramer and Magnus Nordenman

NATO has also begun to plan and exercise for maritime contingencies in the region, with additional bilateral and national exercises as complements.

France Germany

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2016

Why NATO Allies Should Be Worried About the Scottish Elections

By John Johnston

NATO partners must take a closer look at the defense policies of Scottish political parties in the wake of the Scottish National Party’s historic election victory on May 5 and its leader’s declaration that she reserves the right to hold a second independence referendum if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union “against our will.” […]

NATO Nuclear Nonproliferation

Issue Brief

May 6, 2016

NATO’s next consortium: Maritime patrol aircraft

By Magnus Nordenman

Airborne systems to provide MDA, and maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) in particular, stand out among the most important and urgent maritime requirements. Maritime patrol aircraft fulfill a number of roles, from high-end Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) to maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and search and rescue at sea. NATO members must now recapture these capabilities and invest in a robust maritime patrol aircraft fleet.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

Experts